Shouldering the load

After struggling with a shoulder injury early this season, former Worcester State standout Tim Stronach's professional baseball career is back on track.

During spring training, Stronach encountered an unwanted obstacle — rotator cuff tendinitis. He began the season in extended spring training and had to wait until mid-July to make his first appearance for the St. Lucie Mets, the New York Mets' Class A affiliate.

Stronach struggled through some bullpen outings before making his first start June 28, allowing three runs on eight hits in just 3-2/3 innings.

On July 15, however, the 23-year-old Stronach had his breakout game, one that he easily considers his best performance in the minor leagues. He pitched six perfect innings and carried a no-hitter into the ninth, earning the win in a 10-0 victory.

“It felt great to work back from that shoulder injury,” Stronach said. “I really felt great that day.”

Stronach even retired former Angels standout Troy Glaus three times in the win. Glaus was on a rehab assignment with the Palm Beach Cardinals, recovering from a shoulder injury.

In 2005, Stronach turned in a stellar sophomore season at Worcester State, going 6-0 with a 2.45 ERA and a .209 opponent batting average. He led the Lancers to their first victory in an NCAA tournament game, pitching all nine innings and allowing just six hits while striking out eight in a 4-1 win over Suffolk.

His junior year was nowhere near as spectacular. He went just 3-7 with a 3.72 ERA, though he did record 71 strikeouts. Stronach, a native of Haverhill, was selected in the ensuing 2006 draft by the Mets in the 22nd round. He is the first Lancer to be drafted since the 1960s.

“It was something I never expected,” Stronach said. “Coach (Dirk) Baker put together a great program at Worcester State and I'm very thankful for that. It was a great feeling.”

After the draft, Stronach was sent to Kingsport of the Appalachian League (Rookie), where he went 4-2 with a 3.76 ERA. In 2007, he started his first full season in Class A, but went 2-7 with a 5.45 ERA and was sent down at the All-Star break.

Last season, he went a combined 5-7 with stints at Savannah, Brooklyn and St. Lucie.

Stronach noted some differences between college and minor league ball.

“In college, you're there as a team,” he said. “Here, you're there as a team, but it's also individual. We're all trying to be the first one moved up.”

The talent level is also much better.

“Hitters here are like the third hitter in a college lineup,” he said. “Guys aren't going up there just hacking, they're disciplined.”

Stronach throws a fastball, slider and changeup, and is working on building up his confidence.

“I've been told I have pretty good stuff,” Stronach said. “But you can't move up if you don't have that mental aspect to go along with it.”

With his shoulder injury behind him, Stronach is looking to develop more of an everyday routine that should make things easier for him.

“In college, I just got the ball and threw,” he said. “Now, I have to watch everything I do, from what I eat to stretching — it's all important.

“It's a grind every day with the running, lifting and the travel and things like that. But it's what you get in the end that makes it worthwhile.”